Rogue Wave is pure power on new release

Aside from having one of the coolest -- albeit most fabricated -- names in music, Zach Rogue also has one of music's most powerful and up-and-coming voices. The leader of the aptly named Rogue Wave, he is the brain behind the group's sophomore album, Descended Like Vultures. The Oakland, Calif.-based band's first record, last year's Out of the Shadow, drew comparisons to several already-notable groups, like The Shins.

With their newest effort, however, Rogue Wave seems to have shed their indie-folk skin. Vultures is serious music; it sounds like a combination of Elliott Smith's weighty lyricism and Radiohead's richly energetic instrumentation. Zach Rogue's echoing vocals are the musical equivalent of black velvet. The accuracy of this metaphor is especially apparent on "Publish My Love," which, by far and without close rival, is the album's standout track. Its singularly beautiful chorus resonates with tangible passion and raw intimacy; it feels like the product of intense personal effort and contemplation.

The quality of the music found on Descended Like Vultures stems from the group's willingness to explore uncharted territory or take structural chances, such as placing dissimilar tracks back to back. Each has a different context and a different meaning: One recent release, "10:1," is a slightly frantic pop song possessing a furious, organ-like pulse, whereas "Salesman at the Day of the Parade" is an unhurried, acoustic ballad of contrition.

Despite obvious differences between its tracks, the album as a whole still sounds remarkably consistent and cohesive. A perfect example is the track "California." It's quite a bitter tune -- the chorus is "Screw California and friends that are never there" -- but you'd never know it by pure sound alone. Its simple, repeated chords and Zach Rogue's emotionless voice produce a sound that is impossible to call "bitter." Similarly, carefully crafted dichotomies are present throughout the entire album, producing something of exceeding richness and appeal. Out of the Shadow, it appears, was only a primer; Vultures seems to be the project in which the band has invested their best ideas and their full abilities.

Rogue Wave

Descended Like

Vultures

Sub Pop

October 25, 2005